Mikel Arteta ‘ready to take Arsenal job’ BEFORE World Cup as club prepare for talks

Sky Sports expert Guillem Balague recently spoke with Arteta and understands that the Spaniard thinks he is ready for management.

Arteta is set to meet Gunners chiefs to discuss the possibility of taking charge with the club wanting a man in place before the World Cup.

Balague tweeted: “Mikel Arteta is ready for the Arsenal job. Completely ready. More importantly I feel he thinks the same. I spoke to him before becoming member of City’s coaching staff (his last interview).”

Express Sport understands that majority shareholder Stan Kroenke and the rest of the board will meet on Monday to discuss giving the job to the Spaniard.

Chief executive Ivan Gazidis is a big fan of Arteta, who is now the red-hot favourite to take over from Arsene Wenger.

It comes after managers dropped like flies in the race to get the job.

Juventus boss Max Allegri had second thoughts about moving to the Emirates while Hoffenheim have insisted Julian Nagelsmann will “100 per cent” stay with the Bundesliga club.

Allegri was unhappy with the way the Gunners planned to revamp their squad with Gazidis, head of recruitment Sven Mislintat and head of football relations Raul Sanllehi having the major say over transfer dealings.

He also had misgivings about whether Arsenal were ready to spend the £200m he said was needed to make them title challengers.

Arteta, No.2 to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, will be a vastly cheaper appointment, with a compensation package of around £12million due to Juve as Allegri has two more years left on his contract.

Arteta, 36, looks sure to accept the new backroom set-up introduced by Gazidis, with his role primarily on the coaching side.

It is understood Jack Wilshere, who was left out of the England squad for the World Cup, has let the club know he is willing to sign a new contract and work under Arteta.

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